riThe pollution levels in the National Capital Region eased a bit on Tuesday, but continued to be way above the danger category.

Even as the Delhi government is figuring out ways to aerially sprinkle water in the city to settle particulate matter to bring down the pollution, the National Green Tribunal suggested more measures to bring down the pollution. It ordered that sprinkling of water in the most polluted areas in the city, needed to be done today, without wasting any time.

The Green panel also refused to exempt women and two-wheelers from the Delhi government’s odd-even car rationing scheme.

NGT also ordered that diesel vehicles which were over ten years old needed be taken off Delhi roads immediately. But it allowed the non-polluting industries and those manufacturing essential goods to continue operating in NCR.

On Monday, the Delhi government had moved the NGT to modify its November 11 order refusing to exempt women and two-wheelers from the odd-even scheme. As the NGT refused to modify its order, the city government withdrew its plea.

Last week the AAP government in Delhi had announced that the odd-even car rationing scheme was to implemented in Delhi for five days from November 13 to November 17. But the NGT had slammed the Delhi government for trying to implement the scheme without being able to prove if the scheme makes any difference in improving the air quality.

The NGT had also asked the state government to ahead ahead with the scheme by removing the list of exemptions that include women drivers and bikers. But the government chose to cancel the odd-even scheme because it said the public transport would not be able to bear the rush if both women and bikers were excluded from the scheme. It also raised concerns for women’s safety.